Rail-clamp.



L. BLESSING.

RAIL CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1913.

1,094,518. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

} INN/M lwumtov wi/bmeooeo l LOUIS BLESSING, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

RAIL-CLAMP.

Application filed November 26, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Serial No. 803,120.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS BLESSlNG, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Rail- Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the a .-coinpanying drawings.

in securing track rails to ties of cementitious material or other non-penetrable substances, where it is necessary to use some thing beside the ordinary track spike, it is desirable that the rail be held by means that resists any tendency to creep or move laterally of the tie and longitudinally of the rail under the vibrations of a rolling load. it is also advantageous that such holding means be readily applicable and afford a yielding cushioning support to the rail.

This invention relates to a rail fastener and to an arrangement thereof whereby, although it is readily placed in position, it cannot work loose.

Another feature of the invent-ion is the cushioning support and holding pressure inserted upon the rail.

The invention consist-s in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing a tie with rail seat and rail thereon provided with rail fasteners or clamps that embody features of the invention, the view being partially broken away; Fig. 2 is a view in detail of one form of rail seat; Fig. 3 is a view in detail of a seat. cushion; Fig. 4 is a view in detail of a tie with the seat and seat cushion removed; Fig. 5 shows details of a fastening bolt and retaining tube; and Fig. 6 is a view in detail of a clamping head.

Referring to the drawings a tie 1 of any approved material, such as reinforced concrete or the like has a transverse gain near each end in which a cushion 2 of sheet fiber or the like may be laid. A rail seat 3 rests upon the cushion and is retained against movement transversely to the tie by marginal depending flanges 4:. The cushion may rest on the top of the tie and the rail seat hold it in position, if preferred, or other variations in the cushion and seat may be made if desired. A pair of oppositely disposed projections or ribs 5 are formed each near the corner of and on the upper face of the seat.

A pair of holding members 6 are secured to the body of the seat at their lower ends in such way that their upper portions may be swung up alongside the faces of the tie and the depending flanges at of the seat into operative relation to the base flanges 7 of an applied track rail 8. Preferably the holding members are bent between their ends to form arms 5) that extend into a socket tube 10 embedded in the tie below the seat in substantially parallel relation to the rail, or the tube may be omitted if preferred.

A clamping head 11 that is longitudinally movable on the upwardly extending portions of the holding members 6 has a projecting lug 12 whose under face is adapted to conform to and rest on the upper face of the base flange 7 of the rail when the hold ing member is in operative position. A suitably disposed slot 18 in the under face of the clamp receives the adjacent projection 5 of the rail seat and thereby confines the clamp as well as the holding member 6 from movementlongitudinally of the rail and transversely of the tie. A nut 14: that engages the screwthreaded outer end por tion of the holding member 6 forces a split or spring washer 15 against the clamp 11 and thereby causes the latter to exert a yield ing pressure against the rail; Or the nut 14: may bear directly against the clamp, but the cushioning effect of the spring washer forcing the rail and seat against the cushion on the tie produces better results as it effectively eliminates the tendency of the cooperating members to work apart from vibration.

One advantage of the fastening means is the ease of application which coupled with its simplicity and its positiveness of action makes it extremely effective. Because of the cushioning support to the rail and the elastic clamping pressure, the parts do not tend to work loose or to crystallize and thereby weaken themselves under strain.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a railway tie and track seat thereon, of rail fastening members each attached to the body of the tie to swing into operative relation to the rail and seat, rail clamps longitudinally adjustable on the holding members adapted to interlock with the rail seat against lateral movement and to engage over the rail, and means engaging the members for holding the rail clamps on the seat and rail.

2. The combination with a railway tie and a rail seat thereon of holding members each secured to the tie body beneath the seat and adapted to swing into operative relation to the rail seat, and a track rail ap plied thereto, clamping members adjustably secured on the holding members and adapted to interlock with the rail seat against lateral movement, and means detachably engaging the holding members for forcing the clamping members to seat.

The combination with a rail 'ay tie, a rail seat thereon and a track rail resting on the seat, of a pair of holding members pivotally secured at the lower ends thereof to the track tie to swing into operative relation to the track seat and rail clamping means on the holding members adapted to interlock with the rail seat of the rail against lateral movement, and means engaging the holding members and yieldingly forcing the clamping means against the rail and seat.

4. The combination of a track tie of cementitious material, a rail seat on the tie a cushion for the seat between the latter and the tie and a track rail resting on the seat or holding members each engaging a trans verse opening in the tie below the seat with the outer portion adapted to swing into operative relation to the tie, and seat, a clamp on each holder adapted to engage a projection on the seat whereby lateral movement of the clamp is prevented and to hook over the base and flange of an applied rail and means on the holding members for forcing the clamps into position.

5. The combination with a railway tie of cementitious material, a seat cushion there on, a rail seat resting on the cushion and having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally arranged projections on its face, and a track rail resting on the seat between the projections, of holding members each bent between its ends with the lower portion engaging in a transverse opening of the tie below the rail and with the outer portions extending obliquely past the seat and rail flange, a clamp on each holding member adapted to hook over the rail and the adjacent projection of the seat, and means on each member for holding the clamp interlocked with the rail and projection.

3. The combination with a railway tie of cementitious material, a seat cushion thereon, a rail seat resting on the cushion and having a pair of oppositely disposed longitudinally arranged projections on its face and a track rail resting on the seat between the projections, of holding members pivotally attached to the tie below the seat with the outer portions extending obliquely past the seat and rail flange, a clamp on each holding member adapted to hook over the rail and the adjacent projection of the seat, and means on each member for holding the clamp interlocked with the rail and projection.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS BLESSING.

Witnesses GEORGE G. EMERSON, XVILLIAM Kn'r'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of yatents,

Washington, D. G. 

